Optimizing the Antimicrobial Activity of Sodium Hypochlorite (NaClO) over Exposure Time for the Control of Salmonella spp. In Vitro.

Fish is a nutritionally rich product; however, it is easily contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms, such as Salmonella spp. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the best concentration of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), exposure time, and water temperature that allow the most effective antimicrobial effect on the viable population of Salmonella spp. Thus, Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 13076 and Salmonella Schwarzengrund were exposed to different time frames, ranging from 5 min to 38.5 min, temperatures between 5 and 38.5 °C, and NaClO concentrations ranging from 0.36 to 6.36 ppm, through a central composite rotational design experiment (CCRD). The results demonstrated that the ATCC strain exhibited a quadratic response to sodium hypochlorite when combined with exposure time, indicating that initial contact would already be sufficient for the compound's action to inhibit the growth of the mentioned bacteria. However, for S. Schwarzengrund (isolated directly from fish cultivated in aquaculture), both NaClO concentration and exposure time significantly influenced inactivation, following a linear pattern. This suggests that increasing the exposure time of NaClO could be an alternative to enhance Salmonella elimination rates in fish slaughterhouses. Thus, the analysis indicates that the Salmonella spp. strains used in in vitro experiments were sensitive to concentrations equal to or greater than the recommended ones, requiring a longer exposure time combined with the recommended NaClO concentration in the case of isolates from aquaculture.

Behavior of spoilage bacteria and Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica O:4,5 in vacuum-packaged beef during refrigeration / Comportamento de bactérias deteriorantes e Salmonella enterica subespécie entérica O:4,5 em carne bovina embalada a vácuo durante refrigeração

ABSTRACT: In this study, the kinetic parameters of mesophilic, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria in vacuum-packed beef at 1 °C and 4 °C were estimated from experimental growth curves produced by samples stored during 21 and 60 days, respectively. In a separate experiment, the survival of multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica O:4,5 at 1°C was also characterized. The shelf-life of vacuum-packed beef stored at 4 °C was estimated at 16.1 days (95% CI: 14.8 - 17.3 days), whereas at 1 °C it was longer than 21 days because the mesophiles count estimated towards the end of the experiment was 12.5 ln CFU.g-1 (95% CI: 11.8 - 13.3 ln CFU.g-1) which is lower than the shelf-life reference value. At 1 °C, inoculated Salmonella was reduced in 6.61 ln CFU.g-1 (2.87 log CFU.g-1). These results demonstrated the importance of establishing in legislation, especially in Brazil, standard values of deteriorating microorganisms in beef for maintaining product quality.

RESUMO: Neste estudo, os parâmetros cinéticos de bactérias mesófilas, psicrotróficas e ácido lácticas foram estimados em carne bovina embalada a vácuo a 1 °C e 4 °C, a partir de curvas experimentais produzidas em amostras estocadas durante 21 e 60 dias, respectivamente. Em um experimento separado, a sobrevivência de Salmonella enterica O:4,5 multirresistente (MDR) a 1°C também foi caracterizada. A vida de prateleira da carne bovina embalada a vácuo, estocada a 4°C, foi estimada em 16.1 dias (95% CI: 14.8 - 17.3 dias), enquanto que a 1 °C o período foi maior que 21 dias, porque a contagem estimada de mesófilos ao final do experimento foi de 12.5 ln UFC.g-1 (95% CI: 11.8 - 13.3 ln UFC.g-1), o qual é mais baixo que o valor referência de shelf-life. A 1 °C, Salmonella inoculada reduziu em 6.61 ln UFC.g-1 (2.87 log UFC.g-1). Estes resultados demonstram a importância de estabelecimento em legislação, especialmente no Brasil, de valores padrões para contagem de microrganismos deteriorantes em carnes visando manter a qualidade do produto.

Salmonella isolated from chicken carcasses from a slaughterhouse in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil: antibiotic resistance profile, serotyping, and characterization by repetitive sequence-based PCR system.

Salmonella is one of the major causative agents of foodborne infections. Salmonellosis becomes more dangerous when strains resistant to several antibiotics are found in food, especially in chicken, one of the primary transmission vehicles of this pathogen for humans. The present study aimed to estimate the occurrence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, as well as determine the antibiotic resistance profile and genotypic characteristic of multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates. During a 15-month period, from 01/2014 to 05/2015, 850 samples of chilled fresh chicken carcasses were sampled from a slaughterhouse and submitted to Salmonella determinations according to the ISO-6579/2002 method, serotyping and multiplex PCR. The disc diffusion test was applied for 17 antibiotics, according to CLSI (2014). Five isolates were genotyped by repetitive sequence-based PCR using the semi-automated DiversiLab (bioMérieux®) system. The occurrence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses was of 3.7% (31/850), with only 4 strains (12.9%) presenting as MDR, and 6 strains (19.35%) displaying ESBL. The predominant serovars were Salmonella Infantis (35.4%, 11/31), and S. Abony (25.8%, 8/31), followed by serovars S. Agona (12.9%, 4/31), S. Schwarzengrund (9.7%, 3/31), S. Anatum and Salmonella enterica O:4,5 (6.5%, 2/31), and only one Salmonella enterica O:6,7 strain (3.2%, 1/31). All isolates were resistant to one to 5 classes of antibiotics in decreasing order: folate pathway inhibitors, ß-lactams (cephalosporins, penicillin, monobactams), tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and gentamicin. However, strains sensitive to florfenicol, streptomycin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and nitrofurantoin were also found in this study. Genotyping revealed 98 to 99% homology between 3 Salmonella strains, which displayed high phenotypic resistance similarity to ß-lactams and folate pathway inhibitors. Detection of MDR non-typhoid Salmonella in chicken slaughterhouses with quality assurance systems such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Points and Implemented Good Manufacturing Practices is a concern, reinforcing the need for constant monitoring of these pathogens, with the purpose of safeguarding the safety of their products.

Salmonella spp. in the fish production chain: a review / Salmonella spp. na cadeia produtiva do peixe: uma revisão

ABSTRACT: Salmonella spp is a pathogen responsible for severe foodborne infections, can be introduced into the fish production chain through inadequate handling or hygiene or contact with contaminated water, and is not a biological contaminant originally reported in fish. Fish microbiological safety is a concern for consumers, industries and regulatory agencies worldwide, since fish, an important food category in the international trade and often exported to several countries, can act as a vehicle for Salmonella transmission throughout the production chain. In addition, concerns regarding the misuse of antibiotics in aquaculture are also an issue, as a result of the increased isolation of resistant and multiresistant Salmonella serovars. In this review, we examined aspects associated with the microbiological risks of the presence of Salmonella spp. in fish and their implication in the aquaculture production chain. In addition, incidence and antimicrobial resistance data are presented, as well as strategies for Salmonella prevention and control in fish.

RESUMO: Salmonella spp. é um patógeno responsável por uma grave infecção alimentar que pode ser introduzida na cadeia do pescado, por meio da manipulação e higiene inadequada ou por contato do peixe com águas contaminadas. Essa bactéria não é contaminante natural no pescado. Por isso, a segurança microbiológica do pescado é uma preocupação dos consumidores, indústrias e das agências reguladoras em todo mundo, uma vez que o pescado é importante produto para comércio internacional de alimentos, sendo frequentemente exportados para vários países podendo ser veículador da transmissão de Salmonella em toda a cadeia produtiva. Outro aspecto preocupante é quanto ao uso inadequado de antibióticos na aquicultura, o que vem resultando no aumento do isolamento de sorovares de Salmonella resistentes e multidroga resistentes. Nesta revisão, são examinados aspectos associados ao risco microbiológico da presença de Salmonella spp. no pescado e sua implicação na cadeia produtiva da aquicultura. Dados sobre a incidência e resistência antimicrobiana e estratégias de prevenção e controle de Salmonella no pescado no Brasil e no mundo são apresentados e discutidos.

Parasitos em alface-crespa (Lactuca sativa L. ) de plantio convencional, comercializada em supermercados de Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brasil / Parasites in conventionally planted curly lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. ) sold in supermarkets in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a ocorrência de estruturas parasitárias em alfaces-crespas comercializadas em supermercados de Cuiabá-MT. Foram analisados 45 pés de alface coletadosaleatoriamente, em triplicata, de três redes de supermercados de grande porte (9 na rede A, 27 na B e 9 na C). Os pés de alface, oriundos de cinco diferentes fornecedores denominados F1, F2, F3, F4 e F5, foram analisados por duas técnicas de detecção de parasitos: sedimentação espontâneae centrifugação simples. Dentre as amostras, 66,7por cento (30/45) mostraram-se contaminadas,contendo 182 formas parasitárias, das quais 67 eram ovos de Ascaris sp. e um ovo de Enterobius vermicularis, 33 ovos e larvas de Ancilostomídeos, quatro larvas de Strongyloides sp. e 38 larvas de outros nematoides não identificados entre os helmintos. Já entre os protozoários, detectaram-se 23trofozoítos de Balantidium sp., 10 cistos de Entamoeba sp., 3 cistos de Endolimax nana, 2 cistos de Giardia sp. e 1 oocisto de Isospora spp. O ovo de Ascaris sp. foi encontrado nas amostras de todasas redes e seus fornecedores. No entanto, estruturas como ovo de Enterobius vermicularis, cistos deEndolimax nana e oocisto de Isospora spp. foram detectadas somente nos produtos dos fornecedores F1 e F2, respectivamente. Verificou-se que os maiores percentuais de amostras positivas foram dos helmintos, além de protozoários como o Balantidium sp. A presença tanto de helmintos quanto deprotozoários sugere a ocorrência de contaminação durante o cultivo e/ou distribuição desta hortaliça. Ressalta-se, portanto, a necessidade da implantação de medidas higiênico-sanitárias que previnam acontaminação desta hortaliça, preservando, assim, a saúde de seus consumidores.